I’M H.O.M.E.

Project Purpose

The I’M H.O.M.E. Project is designed to meet basic housing related needs for female veterans, and low/moderate-income families in Nashville, Davidson County Tennessee. Through three major components of service: basic needs, housing assistance, and permanent supportive housing, the I’M H.O.M.E. will provide home start-up items for Veterans; financial assistance to prevent utility cut-offs, and evictions for low/moderate income families; medical, mental health and employment information and referrals to secure and maintain permanent housing; and financial education and/or training to help families acquire the skills that lead to financial stability.

Policies and Procedures

Program Components

The I’M H.O.M.E. will have three major components of service: basic needs, housing assistance, and permanent supportive housing.

Policy: Basic Needs Home Start-up packages will be provided to Female Veterans during a five month period, from October through February of each year. The Basic Needs component operates on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 -11:00 am and 1:00-3:00 pm.

Procedure:

Veterans may access the Basic Needs component by personal contact via telephone or face contact or referral from a social services agency. Applications for Assistance may be downloaded from the City of Life CDC website or secured on site.

A telephone contact will require the I’M H.O.M.E. staff/volunteer to schedule an appointment with the Veteran on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday to complete the Application for Assistance and bring the required documents.

A face contact or walk-in (if on the appropriate day – above) will allow the Veteran to complete the Application for Assistance and present the required documents for verification. If the documents are not available at the time, an appointment will be scheduled so that proper verification can be made.

The Advisory Board will review the request for assistance and required documents and respond to the Veteran within three to five days. Every effort will be made to let the Veteran know whether or not I’M H.O.M.E. will be able to honor their request.

Once approved, the individual will be able to pick-up home start-up items at the I’M H.O.M.E. site at the City of Life CDC.

Referring agencies/entities will receive a status report of services provided or denied.

Required Documents:

TN Driver’s License or TN State Identification

DD214 OR VA ID Care

Social Security Card

Proof of Income

Proof of residence (Rental Agreement)

Housing Assistance will provide finances for late rents to prevent eviction and finances to prevent utility cutoffs. Counseling, as requested, will also be available to help families will financial and life management.

Individuals requesting financial assistance to prevent disruption of electric, gas, and/or water services, or eviction due to late rent may access the Housing Assistance services at the I’M H.O.M.E. location at the City of Life CDC. A Request for Assistance form should be completed and copies of late utility notices or eviction notices provided for the Advisory Board’s review.

Referrals from community partners, agencies/entities, should indicate that individual is eligible for assistance and required documents have been verified.

The Advisory Board will respond to the request within three to five days.

If approved, the I’M H.O.M.E. staff will sends the required funds to the utility or rental agent on behalf of the Individual. No funds will be given to the Individual.

Individuals may request counseling by phone of face contact. Counseling is available by appointment only.

Required documents:

Proof of residence (rental agreement) and eviction notice

Utility bill, in the name of the person making the request for assistance, with cut off notice

Financial education and/or training to help families acquire the skills that lead to financial stability will be offered concurrent with other program components. Sessions, times, dates TBD.

Policy: Financial education and/or training will be available to low/moderate income families that live in Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee.

Procedure:

Individuals may register, by telephone or in person, to attend financial education workshops or classes as they are announced to the general public. Workshops/classes will be available at no charge.

Permanent Supportive Housing will provide medical, mental health and employment supports through information, and referrals. This component will be rolled out in 2017.

Policy: I’M H.O.M.E. will provide information and referrals to medical, mental health and employment supports to low/moderate income families to prevent homelessness and encourage permanent housing.

Procedure:

Individuals accessing I’M H.O.M.E. by telephone or face contact for medical, mental health or employment services, will be referred to local agencies that provide the needed services and will receive written information with contact names and phone numbers and directions.

Individuals referred to I’M H.O.M.E. from community partners will receive the information and referral services indicated above.